Model 36 cylinder

[Greg D]

I have an older model 36 (pinned barrel) and when I bought it it had virtually no wear on it and looked like it had hardly been fired. The cylinder didn't turn easily and for lack of a better word, it was "stiff" Since, I have put about 1500 rounds through the gun and cleaned it many times. I have also dried fired many times. I believed that by doing all of this I would make the cylinder turn better, it does not. Does anyone have any suggestions or do I need to bring it to a smith? I only live fifty minutes from the S&W factory, should I bring it there?

 

[Pisgah]

A couple of possibilities come to mind right away. First, you have cleaned it many times -- does that include taking off the sideplate and cleaning the interior thoroughly? Accumulated gunk (dirt, dust, old lube) can gum things up pretty bad.

Second, is the "stiffness" uniform all the way through the cylinder's rotation, or does it seem worse at one point or another? If the latter, you may have a bent cylinder rod causing things to bind up.